System Help Needed - What the Heck Do I Do?

[Notmetro]

I am not an audiophile but definitely enjoy good music and good music systems. I listen to classic rock, classical music, and jazz in that order. I have read and appreciated the incredible knowledge base here at AK and need some help in putting together an upgraded system, maybe utilizing in part some of the separates I have picked up here and there - no rhyme or reason, just came across them from friends, thrift shops, etc., for cheap and thought I might use them sometime or resell. Basically, this system is just for music listening, I have a different system for TV/movies (Marantz with surround KEF speakers).

Current music system - Denon DRA 685 receiver with a Denon AVP 5000 pre-amp with Phase Technology Euro 730 ES speakers and Cambridge Soundworks powered subwoofer, Technics turntable, Pioneer CD player, etc.

Separates in storage:

- Marantz SR8400 receiver, NAD 7020 receiver, Sansui 2020 receiver, Kenwood KR-V6020 receiver
- Electro Voice CPS 2T amplifier, Crown PS200 amplifier, (300+ watts and 100+ watts respectively)
- Bozak 302A speakers, Cerwin Vega 217R speakers (being reconed), NAD 30 speakers

So, from a spec standpoint, is my current system the best combo of all this equipment or should I re-configure and use some of the storage components? I know what sounds best to me is the way to go but I would really like suggestions from the experts because of your technical familiarity and broad experience with vintage gear over time. The two amps have huge power since they are comercial/professional quality; should I be using one of them as a power amp? What about speakers - the Phase Techs sound good to me but maybe I'm missing something re the other speakers.

Or, should I sell some of this stuff and use the money to buy better stuff - maybe a Marantz 2270 and move up in speaker quality a little?

Thoughts/Recommendations?

 

[musichal]

I'm very familiar with a few of those components, somewhat so with others, and never heard several. You leave it to the guy in the room, which would be you. I rather suspect others here may have a similar perspective.

It seems a somewhat mish-mash collection of whatever you ran across. I think I would be tempted to sell - depending upon what you have in them, perhaps. Focusing on quality, not quantity, can yield a better-sounding result. Not that your system(s) sucks; I've certainly had worse. Fewer buys, for more dollars per component was a strategy I adopted that made a huge upgrade in sound over a little time. Don't let the coin of the realm burn a hole in your pocket; delayed gratification can be more gratifying. Just one guy's observation, and it could be off target anyway.

 

[PPstereo]

Welcome to ak.

Completely agree with musichal. Your sitting on the gear and asking others what you'll like best. Try it out and decide for yourself. You already said you know what you like. And no one size fits all with us humans.

With that said having owned bozak 302 speakers they are, imo, amazing sounding speakers. Give the crossovers a refresh with quality caps and I bet they would be stellar.

Also I've found having ample power from an amp is very beneficial. I'd try that crown amp with your various speakers and see what you think of the sound.

None of this is intended to be flippant to you. Just its advice I was given early on and seen other more experienced posters say to other folks. It really is the best advice when the gear is already in your possession.

I'd love to see a follow up to this post from you with your thoughts/experiences after doing a good deal of swapping around with the various gear. Those types of posts are the most interesting to me and I bet others.

Have fun man. Make a weekend or more of it!

 

[Notmetro]

All thoughts much appreciated. I lack that broad experience to really know if this component goes better with that component, etc.

The good thing is that I don't have much invested in either the current music setup or the separates in storage. Selling just about any of them will not be a loss and may even be profitable. I have picked up most of the components at small local auctions that are liquidating estates, etc. E.g., the Phase Technology speakers in beautiful condition only cost me $55, the two amps in were $85 total and the Bozaks with scratched cabinets cost me $35 (easy refinishing job). Nobody knew what they were, apparently. Not that I know that much, but at least I recognized the brands and knew they were good quality. (Although the Bozaks are big cabinets and really heavy, so maybe that was a factor in people passing on them. I'm not quite sure where I would put them myself - they are pieces of furniture practically.)

The Bozak recap suggestion seems like a good one. I have read that those speakers can really shine and I will go ahead and do that now in hopes of further embellishing their sound.

I will also follow your advice and play mix-match one weekend and see what happens. As you suggest, I had also thought that maybe using the Crown amp and one of the receivers as a pre-amp would be a worthwhile exercise. As soon as I get the Cerwin Vegas back from reconing, I will do that. I don't know what the CV sound like but might as well put them in the exercise rotation since I have them. I can always give them to my millenial son who thinks a soundbar from Best Buy is awesome sound.

I realize it is a mish mash project in many ways and the one sure bet is ultimately selling most everything and going to just a few well-matched higher quality components; the smarter, albeit more expensive way to go. But, I didn't want to bail on a component or mix that some of you thought had real potential.

Thanks much for the replies!

 

[xero-D-hero]

Ask me and I'll say the NAD 30 speakers are the keepers of that accumulation of gear.
Those are basically ADS/Braun speakers in a NAD disguise (L990 IIRC).
The rest of it does'nt really do much for me,but of course YMMV.
And receivers & AV gear are'nt my thing @ all,so those I'd be looking to unload for sure.

Anyhow...

I'd probably put together a system based on those NAD 30 speakers.
Likely go with a NAD based rig,using seperate components.
Pick up a NAD preamp and a 2600/2700 power amp,yadda,yadda,yadda,bam done deal.
That would be a system I'm sure I could enjoy for years & years.

JMO ~ FWIW

Bret P.

 

[teal'c]

All thoughts much appreciated. I lack that broad experience to really know if this component goes better with that component, etc.

Again, just because someone else likes it doesn't mean you will, or vice versa. I love my Cerwins, no matter the music played, but plenty of people are happy to tell me how terrible they are for jazz and classical especially. Of course one of the benefits of having Cerwins is you can drown out the speaker bashers.
Nothing wrong with a mish mash system. Nothing wrong with lower cost items if you prefer their sound. Don't let your ego get in the way of the enjoyment. Forget who it was here, but they sold some of their stuff to afford a Marantz only to find out he really didn't care for the way Marantz did music.

That being said, you're going to have a hard time over feeding Cerwins, and I like NAD stuff so I'd go NAD 7020 receiver---Electro Voice CPS 2T amplifier---Cerwin Vega 217R speakers.
I love my CVs and I love my NADs.

 

[musichal]

Yeah, it's good to know that you aren't over-invested in the gear. I was more frugal with my spending when I was able to get out-and-about; now that I'm not as able-bodied, my approach has changed. I use my systems a lot, so it was worth it to me to upgrade to new, or newish (preferred). Can't go looking for deals physically, but have done well online. Anyway, it looks to me you made some good buys, and can put together a nice system from it.

I, too, have owned and loved quite a few NAD products. Still have a tuner and a cassette deck - the tuner (4130) gets used often in the garage. Used to sell NAD and recall that speaker fondly. Not so sure I'd go with the 7020, but I'd give it a try. I never really had the time to sit and listen to Bozak speakers, just heard some in passing. I fully agree with new caps for old speakers, which the NAD might also benefit from.

I also sold Denon. That receiver was a very popular model, sold a bunch of those. Most I've seen since then were inoperable. To be expected, I guess; normal attrition, I suspect, but am not certain. Or maybe it's like a Kenwood KR-6030 I once owned and loved. Many years later, I read here on AK from someone with tech skills that it was well-known that it had a weak power relay (delay? idk) switch. As I read his description of the failure, I nodded yep, that's what happened to mine. I had long before abandoned it. Oh, well.

No experience with those models you have from Sansui and Marantz.

Sold some old Crown, back in the day. Lot of power. Sure, I'd give it a try. Keep us informed of what you like.

 

[Blue Devil]

Sell it all, get a chip amp and bookshelf speakers, and take the girlfriend out for a really good dinner. You'll thank me later.

 

[Steve Smiley]

Hello Notmetro, you have a fun project on your hands. Let yourself enjoy the listening, and given how much gear you have to try out, I gather you'll really come to learn what you like and don't like in your music reproduction.

I will try my hand at suggestions...

For electronics I might like ending up with the Denon AVP 5000 pre-amp. Hooked up to that would be the Crown amp or the EV amp. I'm really curious how that EV amp might play out. I gather the Crown is a winner. Your playback equipment, Technics Turntable, Pioneer CD, etc is probably great, at least for now, if not always.

Speakers are another thing and I don't have any experience with those mentioned except for the Bozak, so that is what I'll pick for you . And here are my understandably-biased thoughts on it- I stumbled on a 3-piece set up (stereo speakers and console) of the B-302A Century that were in desperate need of rescuing and I needed a project to maintain my sanity. I paid a bunch more than $35 dollars but I still got a rather fair deal. I bet after refinishing yours look fantastic. I spent a ton of time refurbishing mine and learning tons. They turned out great and and the 3-piece set up is fantastic, although big, as you pointed out. And yet big is half their magic. I now plan to move these on to another appreciating soul but only because I've built the equivalent speaker in a larger B-4000 symphony cabinets with reworked crossovers to accommodate a 4-way system (an added super-tweeter). I really enjoy how the Bozak sounds but wasn''t as dedicated to it as I am now that I have modded my current speakers with the 4-way crossovers and additional super-tweeters. I've enjoyed the Bozaks on tiny SE tube amps (ChiFi) and they sound good. I am now powering them with a 200 WPC Emotiva and they love the extra power, like I think the Crown or EV amp would deliver. Some say that the Bozak sound is not for everybody, and I would agree with that with the three-way. Now that I have experienced the 4-way I have a hard time finding fault. I think Bozak is the real deal.

The speaker journey was a bit of a rabbit hole, as I wonder if Blue Devil was alluding to, but I find extra appreciation for it given the work we put into it. If you're curious at all about it and aren't averse to a little reading, this thread tells the story of Bozak transformation of a few members projects, including mine, and offers a ton of info.

https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/bozak-b-300-urbans-to-302s.871123/

Enjoy your listening and thanks for asking the question. I had fun researching the gear. Seems like you have a lot of very capable gear there.

Regards,

Steve